Alabama bounced back after an embarrassing loss with a 100-97 win over Texas A&M on Wednesday.
Two of the fastest-paced teams in the country battled it out from start to finish, producing one of the most entertaining games of the season. The Crimson Tide were able to put the embarrassing loss to Florida behind them and bounce back as the SEC schedule begins to get tougher. Alabama advances to 15-7 overall and 5-4 in the SEC after defeating the SEC standings leader, Texas A&M.
Here are a few takeaways from the game.
- Handled the Pressure
Coming off their worst performance of the season, turning the ball over 18 times, Alabama made an emphasis on protecting the basketball on offense. The last team the Crimson Tide wanted to see after struggling to handle the basketball was Texas A&M and its “Bucky Ball” pressure on defense. The Crimson Tide had no trouble protecting the ball and beating the press, turning it over just six times against the SEC leader in steals per game.
- Fast Paced Offense
As advertised, this game was fast-paced and had a ton of offense. From start to finish, both teams went up and down the court at a blistering pace, resulting in a final total of 197 points. Alabama took advantage of the speed of the game and scored 23 of its 100 points on fast breaks. The Crimson Tide had a little more success slowing Texas A&M down and limited them to just 12 fast break points on the night.
- Big Second Half for Bama Backcourt
The dynamic duo of Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway, Alabama’s top two scorers on the season, were held to just four points apiece in the first half. Despite their lack of offense in the first half, Alabama headed into halftime tied. In the second half, the starting Crimson Tide backcourt had a much better time on the offensive end. Philon scored 13 crucial points in the second half while Holloway added 16 second-half points of his own to finish with a team-high 20 points.
- Crucial Win
Alabama head coach Nate Oats described tonight’s game as a “tipping point” game. The Crimson Tide has been inconsistent during SEC play, and their season was at a crossroads. Alabama responded against the SEC standings leader, Texas A&M, with a huge win to avoid dipping below .500 in the SEC. A much-needed win for the Crimson Tide that hopefully carries momentum into Saturday’s matchup against in-state rival Auburn.
Alabama will travel to Auburn on Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
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